Green Living Home

If you’re replacing your old windows with new energy-efficient ones, don’t throw them away!   You can donate them to architectural salvage yards or use them for new projects.  I’ve compiled a list of amazing things you can do with them that will add instant character to your home.

• Dividers between interior rooms where a cut-out in the wall exists.  It’ll give you privacy in each space without blocking sunlight that normally passes through the rooms.  If you install hinges on the wall edge, you can open them when desired.
• New glass door fronts for kitchen or bath cabinetry.  They look great all cleaned up!
• A window in a faux ruin wall (like the one pictured above) which used left-over bricks to create a garden room.
• A tabletop sitting atop 4 legs.  To give a finished look, add some trim between the legs just below the window tabletop.
• A mini greenhouse!
• Decorative screens when 3 old windows are hinged together.
• A headboard or wall art.  You can paint something on the glass or attach a scenic print to the backside of the frame (with or without the glass).

photos courtesy of re-nest.com and robojunker.com

If you’re ready for a change in your house, here’s some great inspiration. These five diy redecorating projects are bound to get your creative juices flowing. Each has some before and after shots, and many are filled with inexpensive ideas that can be adapted to almost any room in the house.

1. Colorful Kitchen Bold colors, patterned wallpaper accents, and coordinated accessories transformed this once boring kitchen into a place where everyone will want to gather.

2. Easily Changeable Nursery Babies quickly grow into little people with strong opinions of how they want their room decorated. This crafty mom created a cute Dr. Seuss themed nursery that will be easy to transform into another theme in a few years.

3. Powder Room It’s amazing how a coat of paint, a few accessories and some artwork can change a room from boring to beautiful.

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Now Start here step by step

As a homeowner, you are not legally permitted to perform your own renovation work, with the exception of the electrical, but it is strongly recommended amateurs not do this as disastrous results can occur.

You are legally responsible for obtaining any building permits required. However, your renovator should look after this on your behalf, specifying which permits are required and who will get them.

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Whether you have central air conditioning or a window air conditioner, there are some easy things you can do to ensure it runs efficiently, therefore saving you money on electricity bills.

Of course, the ultimate way to save energy is to turn it off when not absolutely needed.  When the weather is pleasant during the day, or during cooler evening and early morning hours, simply opening windows is the least expensive course of action.  But, when those dog days of summer come along and it’s too hot and humid to think straight, keep these tips in mind:

• Ideal placement is in a north-facing window where the sun won’t bake it and make it work harder than it should.
• Clean the filter.  It should slide out so you can wash it with warm, soapy water to remove any dirt or mildew.  Be sure it is completely dry before putting it back into the unit.  I like to lay it out in the sun to dry.
• Use a programmable wall outlet timer with your room air conditioner so you don’t have to leave it running while you’re not home.  The timer will turn on the A/C unit so it’ll cool down your room by the time you return.  (Make sure that the amperage and voltage ratings of the wall outlet timer are appropriate for the electricity demands of the room air conditioner).
• When buying new, look for Energy Star rated models that have a built-in timer and/or programmable thermostat settings.  Learn how to find the proper sized unit for your room.  Save money with state rebates available for appliances such as room air conditioners.

• Change the filter when dirty, or at least every 3 months, if used frequently.  It’ll run more efficiently and last longer.
• Maintenance check ups for your HVAC system will keep it running efficiently.  You can do it yourself if you don’t want to call in a professional.  Here’s a helpful checklist.
• Keep the temperature at 78 degrees or higher, and you’ll still cool down your place and reduce the humidity.
• Install a programmable thermostat so your A/C doesn’t have to run all day while you’re away.  You’ll save almost $200 every year off heating and cooling costs!
• When buying new, you’ll likely save 30% in cooling costs if your central air system is more than 12 years old.  Tax credits and appliance rebates are also available for Energy Star models to help offset the expense.